Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Philippi experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 48.6 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 25.5 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39. The city sits at an elevation of 1,560 feet.
Temperature
30°F Jan (-1°C)71°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average
51.5°F
5% below US avg
January Average
30°F (-1°C)
July Average
71°F (22°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,560 ft (475 m)
Area
2.9 sq mi (7.6 km²)
Population Density
1,031/sq mi
Coordinates
39.1473°N, 80.0504°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Taylor County County
Nearest Airport
Mid-Ohio Valley Regional (PKB) 76 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall48.6"
28% above US avg
Snowfall25.5"
Wettest Month (Jul)4.80"
Driest Month (Oct)3.19"
Air Quality
AQI Median
39.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
23.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability
44.8 / 100
Community Resilience
53.1 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Very Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
No Rating
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Relatively Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
27 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.5.
Apr 22, 1991
14 km ESE of Falling Spring, West Virginia
M3.5
135 km
15 km
Jun 3, 2017
1 km WNW of Batesville, Ohio
M3.4
137 km
2 km
Mar 31, 2013
West Virginia
M3.4
88 km
8 km
Apr 4, 2010
14 km SW of Gassaway, West Virginia
M3.4
97 km
0 km
Apr 22, 2025
3 km ESE of Buffalo, Ohio
M3.1
149 km
5 km
Aug 31, 2011
3 km SE of Lowell, Ohio
M3.1
129 km
5 km
Apr 2, 2017
5 km W of Graysville, Ohio
M3.0
118 km
4 km
Feb 3, 2025
0 km NE of Reno, Ohio
M2.8
118 km
10 km
Aug 31, 2011
2 km NNW of Belmont, West Virginia
M2.8
109 km
5 km
Jan 10, 2012
14 km WNW of Birch River, West Virginia
M2.8
98 km
0 km
Jul 30, 2013
12 km SSW of Glenville, West Virginia
M2.8
82 km
13 km
Jul 20, 2013
6 km SW of Glenville, West Virginia
M2.7
78 km
21 km
Aug 25, 2011
14 km SE of Falling Spring, West Virginia
M2.7
138 km
13 km
Apr 29, 2010
7 km W of Gassaway, West Virginia
M2.7
88 km
0 km
Apr 29, 2010
3 km WNW of Gassaway, West Virginia
M2.6
84 km
0 km
Aug 16, 2013
13 km SW of Glenville, West Virginia
M2.6
84 km
6 km
Jul 11, 2006
9 km SSE of Rupert, West Virginia
M2.6
150 km
5 km
May 7, 2010
14 km WSW of Gassaway, West Virginia
M2.6
96 km
0 km
Sep 4, 2011
3 km N of Saint Marys, West Virginia
M2.6
104 km
5 km
Jun 6, 2014
13 km NNE of Sissonville, West Virginia
M2.6
144 km
30 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
87 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 2 fatalities, 51 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Oct 1, 1986
EF3
65 km
1.0 mi
0
Jun 3, 1980
EF3
45 km
29.8 mi
0
May 19, 1967
EF3
67 km
0.3 mi
1
Jun 2, 1998
EF2
90 km
15.0 mi
0
Jun 2, 1998
EF2
75 km
12.0 mi
0
Oct 1, 1986
EF2
90 km
4.5 mi
0
Jun 21, 1981
EF2
50 km
1.0 mi
0
Jul 9, 1980
EF2
48 km
0.3 mi
0
Jun 20, 1977
EF2
57 km
8.5 mi
0
Jul 13, 1971
EF2
72 km
16.0 mi
0
Aug 22, 1970
EF2
21 km
1.0 mi
0
Jun 25, 1968
EF2
82 km
0.1 mi
0
May 7, 1967
EF2
21 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 7, 1956
EF2
46 km
1.0 mi
0
May 11, 2024
EF1
83 km
3.1 mi
0
May 11, 2024
EF1
80 km
3.1 mi
0
May 11, 2024
EF1
80 km
1.2 mi
0
Oct 21, 2021
EF1
98 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 29, 2021
EF1
99 km
2.8 mi
0
Oct 2, 2018
EF1
94 km
1.7 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
17 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: RAMSHORN-GUINN RIDGES RX (2,469 acres, 2024).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2024
RAMSHORN-GUINN RIDGES RX
2,469
89 km
2001
NEW CREEK MTN
1,689
72 km
2017
CHESTNUT RIDGE RX
1,624
91 km
2017
UNNAMED
1,446
90 km
2013
SMOKE HOLE FIRE
1,436
72 km
2019
DRY HOLLOW
1,327
73 km
2000
BRAKE RUN SHEN. MT. RD.
1,055
95 km
2010
CHESTNUT RIDGE RX
1,033
91 km
2024
SPRING RUN
847
88 km
1999
AUTHONYS CREEK
782
95 km
2024
GRACE MOUNTAIN
760
93 km
2019
UNNAMED
754
88 km
2021
RAMSHORN RX
711
88 km
1994
ELKHORN TOWER
696
91 km
2015
POPLAR RIDGE
659
92 km
2019
UNNAMED
547
72 km
2001
SOUTH BRANCH
519
99 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
30°F (-1°C)
3.5 in
Coldest
February
32°F (-0°C)
3.2 in
March
41°F (5°C)
4.3 in
April
50°F (10°C)
4.0 in
May
59°F (15°C)
4.5 in
June
67°F (19°C)
4.7 in
July
71°F (22°C)
4.8 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
70°F (21°C)
4.5 in
September
64°F (18°C)
3.7 in
October
52°F (11°C)
3.2 in
Driest
November
43°F (6°C)
3.7 in
December
34°F (1°C)
3.8 in
Philippi has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 30°F in January to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.8 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.8") and October the driest (3.2").